William goodbqdy



(No Model.)

W. GOODBODY.

BNVBLOPE POR MAILING SAMPLES, 6170., No. 307,291. Patented Oct. 28,1884..

N. PEYERS Phom-L'vlhngraphsf. Walhnihll. ILC.

WILLIAM Goonnonv, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

ENVELOPE FOR MAILING SAMPLES, 85C.

TJFEGEFIQATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 30"7,291, datedOctober 28, 1884.

i Application filed March 1, 1884. (No model.) J

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Goonnonv,

of the city, county, and State of New York,

' letterslof reference marked t-hereon, making a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to open-ended unsealed envelopes or boxes formailing samples, circulars, &c. Its object is to simplify theconstruction of the envelope or box and provide a simple, securefastening for its unsealed end, which will admit of its being readilyopened and closed again.

It consists of an envelope provided with a tongue upon the closed andsealed back thereof, whose free end extends toward the outer edge of theenvelope in position to pass through slits socut both in the overlappingflaps and in the back of the envelope as that they will register, whenthe liap is closed, both with each other and with the tongue. Thetongue, when inserted through the slit, will lock and fasten down theflap, rand admits of being readily Withdrawn to liberate the iiap inorder to open the package.l

The envelope may be constructed with a locking-tongue, as described, at`each end thereof, and may also be constructed not only in fiat form,but also in the form of a box, as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the blankwhich, properly folded, will constitute my improved envelope. Fig. 2 isa similar `view of the back of said 4blank when folded to form theenvelope, the

envelope being shown as completed, with its unsealed end locked. Fig. 3illustrates my invention as applied to an envelope made to open at thesides instead of the ends. Fig. 4 illustrates its application to anenvelope in box form unsealed at both ends; and Fig. 5, a modication inwhich the tongue is fastened upon the envelope, instead of being madeintegral therewith, and is notched to lock in the slits.

A, Fig. l, represents the paper blank cut out ready for folding into anenvelope; B B',

its main folds, which are brought together to overlap on the back of theenvelope, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and are then pasted down the oneupon the other along their line of intersection at b, to form the bodyof the envelope; C, itsgummed sealing-flap, and D the liap for closingits unsealed end.

At one end or side of the outer fold, B', if the envelope is to be leftunsealed at one end only, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) or otherwise at bothends thereof, (see Fig, 4,) a narrow tongue or strip, E, is separatedfrom the body the flap D to be left` unscaled and through the v body ofthe underlying fold B, in such position as that when the iiap D isfolded vover to close the open end or side of the envelope the slits XVXV shall register with each other and with the tongue E, so that thelatter may be readily inserted through them both, as shown in Figs. 2,3, and 5, and at one end of Fig. el. For mailing purposes it issufficient to leave one ilap, D, only, unsealcd, to be locked by atongue, E, the remaining flap, C, being sealed after the envelope isfilled; but, if preferred, both ends may be arranged to be secured bythe tongue and slits, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Instead of forming the tongue integral with the outer fold, B', on theback of the envelope by dividing a strip, E, from the fold, asdescribed, the tongue may consist of a separate l piece, FX, Fig. 5,pasted or otherwise secured `at one end upon theouter fold, B, in linewith the slits XV IV, so as to admit of ready insertion therein. lVherethe flaps are placed at the sides of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 3,instead of at its ends, as shown in Fig. 2, the tongue E becomesre-enforced by the sealing of the gummed liap C, which, when it isclosed, will overlap the tongue, and being pasted down thereon, asillustrated in Fig. 3, will stiften and strengthen it. If desired, thetongue may be made to look itself when it enters the slit by means of anotch, m, (see dotted lines, Fig. 5,)

IOO

cut on one edge of the tongue, leaving an offset, n, on said edge, andthe slits W' W are so out as that one end of the slit, When the tongueis entered therein, shall be in line with the bottom of the notch only,instead of with the outer edge of the tongue or of its offset on thatside. Hence, when the tongue is slipped into the slits, the offset nwill lock with the end of the slit, and thus prevent a withdrawal of thetongue except it be moved laterally far enough to permit the offset toclear the end of the slits.

In the manufacture of the envelopes they are made ready for use byclosing the flap D at the unsealed end or side and inserting the tongueE in the slits XV W, the end or side covered by the gunimed iiap C beingleft open. In use the articles to be mailed are placed in this iinishedenvelope through its open end or side, which is then closed by pastingdown the gummed ap C in the customary manner.

If the postal authorities wish to examine the contents of the envelope,they can readily do so by withdrawing the tongue E at the unsealed end,thus liberating the flap D and opening the envelope, and may as easilyclose and secure the same by folding down the flap andreinserting thetongue E.

I do not herein claim the construction of an envelope with an unsealedor open flap provided with a tongue projecting therefrom to pass into aslit in the body of the envelope, as various forms of envelopes havebeen designed and used provided with a tongue upon the open flap. Myimprovement differs from these, in that the tongue for locking the openflap is formed upon the body of the envelope and in position to pass andextend toward the outer edge of the envelope, instead of toward thecenter, as it engages the liap, so that the contents of the envelopeshall, in bearing upon the end of the tongue, have a tendency to draw itinward and retain it securely.

I claim as my inventionl. An envelope constructed .with a tongue made toproject from the back and to extend toward its open end, and withtransverse slits to receive said tongue, cut, the one in the body of theenvelope between the tongue and the open end, and the other in the apadapted to close said open end, and in position Yto register with thefirst when the flap is closed, all substantially in the ina-nner and forthe purpose herein set forth.

2. An envelope-blank constructed of a body, A, back folds, B B', flaps CD, and a tongue, E, upon the outer edge of the outer or overlappingbacl; fold, B', formed by a slit, f, eX- tending inward from the lateraledge parallel with the outer edge of said fold. and which is providedwith transverse slits WV W, cut respectively in the inner or underlyingback fold, B, and in the iiap D, closing over thereon in position toregister with each other and with the tongue when the envelope is foldedand closed, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinset forth.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

NVM. GOODBODY. W'itnesses:

l?. ELBERT NosTRAND, A. B. MOORE.

